'Lost' Libris

The season finale for ABC's 'Lost' was nothing short of spectacular this week, and the twist this time has sent many of us scouring the Web yet again for new theories and clues to just what's going on in this crazy universe.

As I've always seen it, the creators have left us the true trail of breadcrumbs from the beginning in the various books, comics and other reading material shown in passing from day one. Many, books in the scavenged personal library of Sawyer.

I checked, and sure enough, someone has compiled a complete list of titles in this untapped gold mine of clues.

I don't recall a few of these, but the one that made me sit up and take notice when it first aired was "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."

I read this short story in high school and always thought it would make a fantastic film. It's too obscure a title to be here by accident (not that there are any accidents on this show) and it has a huge, huge 'Lost' feel to it.

Whoever blogged this book list apparently didn't get it though, because the description there misses the goodies completely.

Here's what happens: Confederate is being hanged during the Civil War when the rope snaps and sends him plunging into the river below. He dodges bullets and escapes his captors, running on into the night to make it back home. But as he does, he senses things aren't right. Even the stars in the sky look oddly out of place. And in the end, just as he's made it home and is headed into the arms of his family, the narrative cuts back to the hero -- swinging dead on the bridge where's he's been all along.

Significant? How could it not be?

Particularly given the fact parallels with the other books are pretty obvious by now. "In Lord of the Flies," the lost boys find a parachutist hanging (dead) from a tree. "Catch-22" involves characters named Naomi and Ruth, both mention in 'Lost' in conjunction with newcomer Naomi Dorrit, who arrives with a copy of the book. And even a quick glance at Stephen King's "The Stand" shows an obvious connection.

"Watership Down" is another, and a personal favorite of mine, that happens to be about a group of faith-minded wanderers led by a mystic vision in search of their true home.

One that really has me intrigued is Charles Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend," "the last book Desmond will read before he dies." ABC's Website also implies the book's significance as Desmond's defining image on its "Lost Connections" page here (image of the book appears behind his head when you click on him).

What does it all mean? Who knows? But it sure is fun trying to work it all out, isn't it?